Device for the continuous winding of wire



July2, 1965 G. BRAM 3,195,338

DEVICE FOR THE CONTINUOUS WINDING OF4 WIRE Filed June 28, 1963 i 2 sheets-sheet 1 JfywenTDI/J afe bien( July `20, 1.965 s. E. BRAM 3,195,338

DEVICE FOR THE CONTINUOUS VIINDING 0F WIRE med June 28, 196s l 2 sheets-sheet z United States Patent OF 3,195,338 Y DEVICE FR THE CNTINUUS WINDING F WIRE Georges Eugene Brani, Ront-A-Mousson, France, assigner to .Centre de Recherches de Font-A-Mousson, Pont-A- Mousson, France, a corporation of France Filed June 28, i963, Ser. No. 291,354

Claims priority, application France, Nov. 14, 1962, 915,330, Patent 1,347,755 9 Claims. (El. 72-l38) The present invention relates to the manufacture of helical coils of wire, these coils being inclined relative to the axis of winding so as to overlap each other and being offset from each other so that they are partially separated in two opposite zones and partially contiguous in two zones in which they cross each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of continuously manufacturing such windings, this method comprising continuously bending the wire at a periodically variable radius of curvature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying out said method and comprising, following on means which feed the wire and include feed pulleys at least one of which is a driving pulley, two support rollers which face each other and a bending roller whose eccentric axis of rotation is offset relative to the path in which the wire is fed between the support rollers.

This method and device are remarkably simple and permit a high rate of vmanufacture of helical windings of wire having offset coils with low power consumption.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings to which the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device for manufacturing a helical winding of metal wire having offset coils;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURES 3 and 3a are partial detail views corresponding to FIGURE 2, showing the bending and formation of the first aligned coils of wire;

FIGURES 4 and 4a are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 3a showing a modication in the spacing or offsetting of the coils;

FIGURES 5 and 5a are similar views showing a modication in the diameter of the coils with a straight axial line of winding;

FIGURES 6, 6a and 7 are similar views showing a modication in the diameter of the coils with a curved axial line of winding, and

FIGURE 7 is a detail elevational view corresponding to FIGURE 6 and showing the formation of a winding coil a metal wire F, fed by a reel B, into helical coils i which are offset from each other and oblique relative to the axial line of winding.

This device comprises a horizontal table ll on which are mounted the feed means for the wire F and the means for winding this wire.

The feed means comprise two pulleys 2, 3 which have vertical axes and feed the wire F in a horizontal direction. These pulleys are in facing relation with one another. Their spindles are journalled in bearings carried by the table 1. One of the pulleys, 2 for example, is a driving pulley and is driven in rotation by a motor il. Following on the feed pulleys and located in the same horizontal l Patented July 20, 1965 ice plane, is a pair of support rollers 5, 6 which are in facing relation with one another, are rotatively mounted on vertical spindles carried by the table l, and form therebetween a passage for the wire F.

The winding means comprise a bending roller 7 which is inv the same horizontal plane as the rollers 5 and 6 but offset from the latter. The roller 7 is in the form of a disc which has a diameter D and a vertical spindle S journalled in the horizontal table 1 through the medium of a bearing 9. Its vertical axis of rotation X-X is eccentric to the extent of the distance e relative to its center 0. The position of the axis of rotation X-X of the bending roller 7 is defined relative to the axis of one of the support rollers (for example roller 5) by the dimensions x and y (FIGURE 3). These distances can be made adjustable, for example by mounting the bearing 9 on the table 1 through the medium of a transverse carriage It) and a longitudinal carriage 11 which are diagrammatically represented in FIGURE l.

The bending roller 7 can for example comprise a partcircular groove for receiving the wire F.

The device operates in the following manner:

After the metal wire F has been introduced between the feed pulleys 2, 3, the motor 4 is started up. The driving pulley 2 feeds the wire F to the point a between the support rollers 5, 6 and then against the bending roller 7 which deviates the wire from its direction of feed (FIGURES 2 and 3). Consequently, the roller 7 bends the steel wire F into a curved shape having a radius of curvature r, this curved wire being tangent to the roller 7 at t (FIGURE 3). The radius of curvature r depends on the position of the point t relative to the point a of passage between the rollers 5 and 6. As it is fed forward, the wire F in tangential contact at t with the bending roller 7, drives the latter in rotation. At each instant the position of the point t therefore varies as a function of the radius of the bending roller measured between the axis X-X and said point t. In FIGURE 3 theradius of the bending roller at point t has a substantially minimum value. In travelling round the circumference of the eccentric roller 7, the radius measured between the axis X-X and the point t passes through a minimum value, progressively increases up to a maximum'value and then once more decreases. This is due to the eccentricity e of the roller 7. The point l therefore moves toward the rollers 5, 6 when the radius of the bending roller 7 at the point t is maximum (minimum radius r of curvature of the wire), then moves away from the rollers 5, 6 when the radius of the bending roller increases. Consequently the radius of curvature r of the bent wire decreases then increases. As a result of its curvature, which varies during a complete rotation of the bending roller, the wire F is wound into acoil having the shape of a 6 from the point b to the point c (FIGURES 2 and 3a). Thus, the following coil is formed with an offset p relative to the rst coil. The coils have an outside diameter E.

It should be noted that during the bending for forming the second coil, the first coil formed turns about the variable center of curvature of the second coil being formed. When a third coil is being formed, the rst two coils formed turn in the same manner about the variable" center of curvature of the third coil being formed.

The winding of the coils can assume different shapes and dimensions in accordance with the dimensions and position of the bending roller 7.

A few factors will now be examined.

(l) Winding along a straight axis (FIGURES l, 2, 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5, 5a)

The formed coils are aligned on -a straight axial line of Winding Y-Y if they device is Iset `by Imeans of the carriages 10 :and 1l (FIGURE 1) so that the bending roller 7 is disposed ata distance x from the support rollers 5, 6 and the coils formed have a perimeter measured between the points b and c which is equal to that of the bending roller- 7.` Indeed, if this conditionY is'satistied, each coil'is formed in accordance With arshape of a 6 during 'one completerotation of the bending roller 7 about the axis X-X. Inother words, the period of Y As has just been explained,'the offset of the coils of constant value p is dueto the eccentricity e of the bending roller '7. Consequently if a bending roller 7a-having the same diameter D but an eccentricity el is used,

the amplitude of the variation in the radius of this roller,

measured between the axis X-X `and the point t1, de-

creases. of the variations in the radius of curvature r' of the coils and therefore of the offset p1 of the coils. treme case, if the. eccentricity e1 of the bending roller 7a is zero, the offset p1 is` also zero and a helical Winding havingcontiguo-us circular coils is produced. On the other-hand, in increasing the eccentricity the offset p1 also increases. `In the other extreme case, if the eccentrici-ty e1 of the bendingV roller 7a is equal to its radius measured from its center O, the offset p1 is very large and the loop in the 6 formed is very squashed so that the winding obtained resembles a series of arches.

(3)v AUutsz'a'e diameter of the coils (FIGURES 5 and 5a) It has been seen that the radius r of curvature of the coils increases when the point of Contact t with the bending roller moves away from the support rollers 5, 6 and decreases when the point t moves toward these rollers. Thus, if the roller -7 is placed lat a distance x1 from the rollers 5, 6 that exceeds the distance x (FIG- URE'S), the outside diameter of the coils has a value El that exceeds the value E. Inversely, if the distance x1 between the bending roller and the supportrollers 5, 6 is less thanV x the outsidel diameter of the coils is less than E. l

It should be noted that to obtain a Winding along a straight axial line Y-Y, it is necessary to change the bending roller and adopt a roller 7b having v.a diameterv D1 whose perimeter is equal to that of the new coils. It is indeed necessary that the period of a complete vrotation of the bending roller be equal to `the :period of Winding' of a complete coil. diameter of the coils is increased from Eto E1, the di- `arneter of the bending roller must be increased from D to D1V and vice versa. Y

=lf the Ioffset: of the coils having diameter El must have .the same value p as that of the coilshaving diameter E, the eccentricity lof the new bending roller 'ib having a diameter D1 must have a value ecorresponding to the mOdi-cation in the diameter `of the roller.

(4) Winding along a curved winding axis line (FIGURES 6 and 6a) The same is true in respect of the amplitude i In the ex- Consequently, if the outside Words, after oneV complete rotation of the bending roller 7, the coil is not yet complete. It is only completely formed 'between the pointsb and c when the bending roller '7 has efected a little more than a complete rotation. If the coil is compared to the shape/of a 6, the loop of the 6 is closed to a greater extent than in lthe case of the straight axial line Y'-Y. Consequently, the start of the curve of the following coil `does not have the same radius as the start of the yfirst' coil. Indeed,the-homologous points of the successive coils, that is, the points at which the successive coilshave identical curvatures, are displaced relative to each other in accordance with rotational movement so that the coils have a curved outside envelope in the form ofa portion of a ring having an `axis Y1-Y1- VWith a suicient number of coils, a complete ring can thus beforrned. This winding curvestoward the rightin the case of FIGUR-E 6 in which the perimeter ofthe bendingroller` is less than the perimeter of, each coil. In the opposite case shown in FIGURB'GU, wherein ythe perimeter of the bending roller 7 is greater than that of thefcoils having a diameter lig-owing to a positiorr'ng of this roller at a distance x2 from the rollers 5, 6 which is less than the distance x-the winding curves toward the left; Indeed, the period of a complete rotation ofA the bending roller is no longer less butgreater than the period of'vvinding of a coil. `As before, the coils are'therefore displaced relative to each other in accordance with the rotational movement but inthe opposite direction.

(5) Planes of the coils inclined relative to eac/z other (FIGURE 7) Inupwardly displacing or offsetting the plane `of the bending roller 7 relative to the vplane in Which` the wire F is fed, there .is produced, in addition to the aforementioned bending, an inflection of the coils and the ,latter issue from theV device in inclined relation with each other. In this Way, a winding is obtained having `a curved axial line lf3-YS whose outside envelope;f(shofvvn in dotted line) is lin the shape of a torus.`

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Thus, instead of driving the bending roller in rotation through the medium of the wire tothe-bent-Which is in tangential contact therewith-a .positive'drive could be provided for this bending roller by a mechanism driven with a suitable transmission ratio1 b y the motor 4. Further, instead of placing the bending roller '7 on the downstream'side' of the support rollers 5, '6,.it couldv be placed on the upstream side thereof, betweenthese rollers and the kfeed rollers 2, 3. ,In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGURE. 7, to obtain a Winding on a curved axial line Y3Y3 and having a toric envelope, the bending roller 7 could beinclined relative to the plane in which the wire F is fed. It should be noted that the bending roller can be cylindrical and smooth, that is, Without a groove.

Having now described my invention whatI claim as new -and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device fork obtaining a helical Winding of a metal Vwire, which winding comprises-'coils .that are inclined relative to the axis of winding and offset from each other, said device comprising means for feeding the Wire longitudinally, two Vsupport rollers which are in facing relation to each other on both sides of the Wire fed by the feeding means, and a rotary bending roller havingan axis of rotation which is located `within the bending roller and is eccentric relative to the center of the bending roller and olset in a fixed` position relative to the path in which the Wire is fedby the feeding means between the support rollers, the support rollersand said axis of rotation being so located relative to eachother that the feeding means and support rollers feed the wire againstthe periphery of the bending roller so that the wire is bent thereby, the radius of curvature of the bend produced in the wire being a function of the radical distance between the point of contact of the wire on the periphery of the bending roller and said axis, said distance varying progressively as the bending rolier rotates about said axis as the bending of the wire proceeds.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dis tance between the axis of rotation of the bending roller and the axis of rotation of one of the support rollers is adjustable so as to regulate the curvature of bending and consequently the outside diameter of the coils.

3. A device as claimed in claim l, wherein the bending roller is detachable and interchangeable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bending roller is driven in rotation by the frictional contact between the wire and the bending roller.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding means comprise feed rollers engaging the wire, the device further comprising a motor which drives in rotation one of the feed rollers and the bending roller.

6. A device for obtaining a helical winding of a metal wire, which winding comprises coils that are inclined relative to the axis of winding and offset from each other, said device comprising means for feeding the wire longitudinally, two support rollers which are in facing relation to each other on both sides of the wire fed by the feeding means, and a rotary bending roller having an axis of rotation which is located within the bending roller and is eccentric relative to the center of the bending roller and offset in a fixed position relative to the path in which the wire is fed by the feeding means between the support rollers a distance which is adjustable to permit regulating the curvature of bending and consequently the diameter of the coils, the outside perimeter of the bending roller being equal to the perimeter of the formed coils, the lastmentioned perimeter being determined by said distance, whereby a helical winding having a straight axis of winding is obtained.

7. A device for obt-aining a helical winding of a metal Wire, which winding comprises coils that are inclined relative to the axis of winding and offset from each other, said device comprising means for feeding the wire longitudinally, two support rollers which are in facing relation to each other on both sides of the wire fed by the feeding means, and a rotary bending roller having 4an axis of rotation which is located within the bending roller and is eccentric relative to the center of the bending roller and offset in a fixed position relative to the path in which the wire is fed by the feeding means between the support rollers a distance which is adjust-able tov permit regulating the curvature of bending and consequently the diameter of the coils, the outside perimeter of the bending roller being different from the perimeter of the formed coils, whereby a helical winding having a curved axis of winding is obtained.

S. A device for obtaining a helical winding of a metal wire, which winding comprises coils that are inclined relative to the axis of winding and offset from each other, said device comprising means for feeding the wire longitudinally, two support rollers which are in facing relation to each other on both sides of the wire fed by the feeding means, and a rotary bending roller having an axis of rotation which is within the bending roller and is eccentric relative to the center of the bending roller and offset in a fixed position relative to the path in which the wire is fed by the feeding means between the support rollers, the plane of the bending roller being axially offset from the plane in which the wire is fed by the feeding means through the support rollers, whereby a helical winding is obtained whose coils have planes which are inclined relative to each other, that is a helical winding that has a torio envelope.

9. A device for obtaining a helical winding of a metal wire, which winding comprises coils that are inclined relative to the axis of winding and offset from each other, said device comprising means for feeding the wire longitudinally, two support rollers which are in facing relation to each other on both sides of the wire fed by the feeding means, and a rotary bending roller having an axis of rota'- tion which is located within the bending roller and is eccentric relative to the center of the bending roller and offset in a xed position relative to the path in which the wire is fed by the feeding means between the support rollers and said axis of rotation being so located relative to each other that the feeding means and support rollers feed the wire against the periphery of the bending roller so that the wire is bent thereby, the radius of curvature of the bend produced in the wire being a function of the radial distance between the point of contact of the wire on the periphery of the bending roller and said axis., said distance varying progressively as the bending roller rotates about said axis as the bending of the wire proceeds, the perimeter of the bending roller being different from the perimeter of the formed coils and the plane of the bending roller being axially offset from the plane in which the wire is fed by the feeding means through the support rollers, whereby a helical winding is obtained which has a curved axis of winding and whose coils have planes which are inclined relative to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,983,301 5/61 Leclabart 153-65 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 05,016 12/26 Austria.

1,194,161 5/59 France.

933,861 lO/ 35 Germany. 668,469 3/ 52 Great Britain.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A HELICAL WINDING OF A METAL WIRE, WHICH WINDING COMPRISES COILS THAT ARE INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF WINDING AND OFFSET FROM EACH OTHER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING MEANS FOR FEEDING THE WIRE LONGITUDINALLY, TWO SUPPORT ROLLERS WHICH ARE IN FACING RELATION TO EACH OTHER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WIRE FED BY THE FEEDING MEANS, AND A ROTARY BENDING ROLLER HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN THE BENDING ROLLER AND IS ECCENTRIC RELATIVE TO THE CENTER OF THE BENDING ROLLER AND OFFSET IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE PATH IN WHICH THE WIRE IS FED BY THE FEEDING MEANS BETWEEN THE SUPPORT ROLLERS, THE SUPPORT ROLLERS AND SAID AXIS OF ROTATION BEING SO LOCATED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THAT THE FEEDING MEANS AND SUPPORT ROLLERS FEED THE WIRE AGAINST THE PERIPHERY OF THE BENDING ROLLER SO THAT THE WIRE IS BENT THEREBY THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE OF THE BEND PRODUCED IN THE WIRE BEING A FUNCTION OF THE RADICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE POINT OF CONTACT OF THE WIRE ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE BENDING ROLLER AND SAID AXIS, SAID DISTANCE VARYING PROGRESSIVELY AS THE BENDING ROLLER ROTATES ABOUT SAID AXIS AS THE BENDING OF THE WIRE PROCEEDS. 